Wath Brow Hornets were crowned the 2012 NCL Premier Division Minor Premiers yesterday afternoon after a hard fought 22-18 victory against Leigh Miners at a packed Twist Lane, Miners made the perfect start to the game scoring after a couple of minutes, Wath Brow’s full back playing the ball to no one on his own line which allowed Ross Bradley to reach out from marker to ground the ball over the line, Josh Ward converting to give Miners an early 6-0 lead. Wath Brow responded with a try from winger Peter Caddy in the right corner to make the score 6-4. The score stayed like that for a good while as the first half flew by with the game being played at a fast pace, the visitors took the lead when Caddy went in for his second try to give them a 10-6 lead at half time after a tough opening forty minutes.

After the half time break Miners started the half the brighter and they tied the score up at 10-10 when winger Sean Pendlebury scored in the corner. Both teams battled it out after Miners had tied up the scores looking for the all-important next score which would help in their bid of finishing top. Hornets took the lead when they scored their third try on the right much to the delight of their supporters and there large away following was going crazy again a few minutes later when Leroy Joe scored on the left to put them 22-10 in front with the game now into the final quarter. With time running out for Miners they were throwing the ball around like a hot potato looking for a way back into the game. Jonny Carroll got Miners within eight points with a try in the left corner and that was followed by a try by winger Gareth Pain who scored Miners fourth try with just over a minute remaining to cut Wath Brow’s lead down to four points, Miners opted not to have a kick at goal to give them one last chance with ball in hand to try and snatch a dramatic late winner but it came to nothing as Wath Brow held out to win the game 22-18 and finish top of the league after Myton lost 40-14 away at last year’s champions Thatto Heath.

Miners are away to Thatto Heath next Saturday in the Elimination Playoff.

Wath Brow Hornets were crowned the 2012 NCL Premier Division Minor Premiers yesterday afternoon after a hard fought 22-18 victory against Leigh Miners at a packed Twist Lane, Miners made the perfect start to the game scoring after a couple of minutes, Wath Brow’s full back playing the ball to no one on his own line which allowed Ross Bradley to reach out from marker to ground the ball over the line, Josh Ward converting to give Miners an early 6-0 lead. Wath Brow responded with a try from winger Peter Caddy in the right corner to make the score 6-4. The score stayed like that for a good while as the first half flew by with the game being played at a fast pace, the visitors took the lead when Caddy went in for his second try to give them a 10-6 lead at half time after a tough opening forty minutes.

After the half time break Miners started the half the brighter and they tied the score up at 10-10 when winger Sean Pendlebury scored in the corner. Both teams battled it out after Miners had tied up the scores looking for the all-important next score which would help in their bid of finishing top. Hornets took the lead when they scored their third try on the right much to the delight of their supporters and there large away following was going crazy again a few minutes later when Leroy Joe scored on the left to put them 22-10 in front with the game now into the final quarter. With time running out for Miners they were throwing the ball around like a hot potato looking for a way back into the game. Jonny Carroll got Miners within eight points with a try in the left corner and that was followed by a try by winger Gareth Pain who scored Miners fourth try with just over a minute remaining to cut Wath Brow’s lead down to four points, Miners opted not to have a kick at goal to give them one last chance with ball in hand to try and snatch a dramatic late winner but it came to nothing as Wath Brow held out to win the game 22-18 and finish top of the league after Myton lost 40-14 away at last year’s champions Thatto Heath.

Miners are away to Thatto Heath next Saturday in the Elimination Playoff.